Ironing board



Aug. 26, 1930. T. WALLACE 1,774,411

IRONING BOARD Filed Dec 20, 1928 Patented Aug. 26, 1939 earner reins THOMAS WALLACE, or CANTON, sourn DAKOTA inonrne BOARD Application filed Eeceinber 20, 1923. Serial No. 827,308.

This invention relates to ironing boards and more particularly to an ironing board adapted to'have one end portion engaged with a table top or equivalent support and 5 its other end portion supported by a floorcngaging leg.

One object of the invention is to provide an ironing board of this type in which a floor-engaging leg is pivotally mounted between gripping bars extending longitudinally beneath the ironing board, one end of the leg being adapted to bear against the under surface of the board and move the gripping bars into operative engagement with a table top when the leg is swung downwardly to an operative position. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing board of this character in which the gripping bars and a cross bar across which they extend are secured to the ironing board by bolts and the gripping bars allowed to have tilting movement relative to the cross bar when the supporting leg is swung to an operative position.

Another object of the invention is to so form the supporting leg and gripping bars that swinging movement of the leg will be limited and the leg prevented from being swung downwarlly beyond a substantially vertical position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view showingthe ironingboard in side elevation with its supporting leg in a folded position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the supporting leg swung down *ardly to an opera tive position and the gripping bars in engagement with the top of a table indicated to reinforce the ironing board and prevent it from splitting longitudinally and also serves a fulcrum across which gripping bars 3 are adapted to rock. The gripping bars 3 extend longitudinally of the board with their outer ends terminating substan tially flush with the end of the board and bolts i are passed through the ironing board and cross bar and gripping bars with their heads countersunk in the board and their securing nuts 5 bearing against the under surfaces of the gripping bars. By this arrange ment the gripping bars maybe held against the under faces of the cross bar and normally extend substantially parallel to the board 1, as shown in Fig. 1, but may be rocked across the cross bar to a gripping position, as shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that the top of a table 6, indicated by dotted lines in Fig.

2, may be firmly gripped between one end of the board and the outer end portions of the gripping bars,

In order to support the board in a subs tially horizontal position for use, there has been provided a leg 7 which is disposed between the gripping bars. Tt should be noted that the gripping bars converge towards their inner ends and the side edges of the leg also extendin converging relation from adjacent the cross bar to the inner end of the leg. The inner side edge faces of the gripping bars have contacting engagement with the side edge faces of the supporting leg and these side edge faces converge toward the board when the leg is in a folded position and disposed snugly between the gripping bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and at. A pivot fastener or bolt 8 extends transversely through the gripping bars and supporting leg in spaced relation to their inner ends and the portion of the leg between the bolt and its inner end is of such length that, when the leg is swung downwardly from a folded position shown in Fig. 1 towards a position for use shown in Fig. 2, its inner end will contact with the under surface of the board and as the leg swings to a substantially vertical position cause the gripping bars to be rocked across the cross bar. Therefore, the outer end portions of the gripping bars which project from the cross 1% tan- ' space between the inner ends ot the bars 0 bar will be swung upwardly towards the corresponding end portion of the board 1 and a table top will. be firmly gripped between the board and outer end portions of the gripping bars. Since the gripping bars converge toward their inner ends and the leg is tapered to ards its inner end, swinging movement of the leg towards a position for use will he stopped when the leg reaches approximately a vertical position due to wedging action which will take place between the contacting side edges of the leg and gripping bars. 'lheretore, the supporting leg will be prevented from moving past a. substantially vertical position and the board will be well supported in position for use. hen the leg is swung to 'ards a folded position, its movement in this direction will be limited. both by engagement with the under surface of the crc itll' and also by wedging action which will take place between the eoi'itacting side edge faces which converge toward the board, as shown in Fig. 4-. Ihis will be better un dcrstood when it borne in mind that the gradually con racts, whereas the leg 7 gradually widens in an opposite direction. As the leg 7 is swung into a vertical position the wide portion to the right of the pivot 8 tends to crowd into the narrow space to the left of said pivot which results in a wedging action and a limitation of the pivotal movement of the leg in the manner stated. The space between confronting edges of the bars 3 is outwardly divergent and the distance between the longitudinal edges of the leg 7 inwardly convergent, as clearly indicated in Figure t. In consequence, of this arrangement. the leg, when folded, will be accommodated between the bars 3 even though it should swell from dampness. The lower or swinging end of the leg 7 is of less width than the space formed between the outer ends of the bars 3, as shown in Figure l. This provides for convenient and safe gripping of the outer end of the leg without injury to the hand by pinching it between the log and bars when. swinging the leg into open or closed position, as would happen if these parts had a contact fit. I have, therefore, provided an ironing board which is simple in its construction and not liable to easily break and have further provided a board in which the supporting leg will be .t'rictimially held in a folded position and prevented from being swung downwardly beyond a substantially vertical position.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An ironing board comprising a board, a cross bar extending across the under surface of said board adjacent one end thereof, clamping bars extending longitudinally beneath said board and having outer ends extending across said cross bar and having innor opposing side edges converging towards each other at their inner ends, bolts passed through the board, cross bar and clamping bars and having heads at their upper ends countersunk into the board and securing nuts upon their lower portions bearing against the clamping bars, a supporting leg extending longitudinally between the clamping bars with its side edges contacting with the inner side edges of the clamping bars, and a pivot fastener extending transversely through the supporting leg and clamping bars in spaced relation to their inner ends whereby the leg may be swung downwardly to a supporting position and during said movement its end portion adjacent the pivot fastener may swing upwardly into engagement with the board to rock the clamping bars upon the cross bar to grip a support between the board and their outer end portions.

2. In an ironing board, clamp bars pivoted near their Outer ends to the under side of the board adjacent an end thereof and having their inner opposing side edges converging toward each other at their inner ends, and a supporting leg extending longitudinally between the clamp bars and pivoted near its inner end thereto adjacent their inner ends and having its longitudinal side edges inwardly converging and in contact with the inner converging side edges of said clamp bars, said supporting leg normally occupying the space formed between the clamp bars throughout their length and adapted to swing downwardly at its outer end into operative position.

3. In an ironing board, clamp bars pivoted near their outer ends to the under side of the board adjacent an end thereof and having their inner opposing side edges converging toward each other at their inner ends, and outwardly diverging away from the board, and a supporting leg occupying the space formed between and pivoted near its inner end to the clamp bars adjacent their inner ends and having its longitudinal side edges converging at its inner end and Sid, and in contact with the inner opposing side edges of the clamp bars, and having the side edges at the outer end oi? the leg spaced from the inner side edges of the clamp bars at their outer ends.

In testimony whereof I a ltix my signature.

THOMAS IVALLACE. [11. s] 

